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Miss USA Is Already Getting Backlash for Calling Herself an "Equalist" Instead of a "Feminist"

May 15, 2017

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Objectively, the fact that the new Miss USA is a black woman, a nuclear scientist, and an advocate for science education is pretty fantastic. Miss District of Columbia Kára McCullough dazzled her way into her crowning moment, but unfortunately not without perpetuating one of the oldest myths about feminism as an ideology.

In response to the question, "What do you consider feminism to be and do you consider yourself a feminist?", McCullough took a moment before responding with:

"As a woman scientist in the government, I'd like to transpose the word feminism to equalism. I try not to consider myself this diehard, like, I don't really care about men."

McCullough then went on to explain that she not only appreciated, but wanted to inspire more women in and into leadership roles, especially in her own field of science. But by equating feminism with hating men, she inadvertently dismisses not just the many men who identify as feminists, but more importantly diminishes the gender equality that feminism has championed over the years — including workplace equality.

Twitter users quickly chimed in with their "Girl, what…" reactions. (Many of the responses also side-eyed McCullough's assertion that healthcare is a privilege, not a right.)

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Let it be clear, in 2017, that judging a person based on a "gotcha" feminism question isn't the most helpful or educational dialogue. Miss USA's title and visibility mean that she gets to promote actual goals, which have equalist values that are also feminist values. The two have never been mutually exclusive terms, and there's no value at all in pretending otherwise.

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